By Macon Ramos-Araneta Posted on Mar. 18, 2013 at 12:01am
The National Power Corp. has announced a power rate increase of P19.38 centavos per kilowatt-hour this month, but Sen. Ferdinand Marcos appealed on the agency on Sunday to hold its implementation until May, or after the end of the hot summer months.
Marcos said the electricity consumption of Filipino households was expected to increase during summer and they would benefit from the delay in the imposition of higher rates.
“Our households deserve at least a temporary respite from the pinch of higher power bills, particularly during summer when people use their electric fans and air-conditioners longer to get relief from the heat,” Marcos said.
The Energy Regulatory Commission has approved Napocor’s petition for an increase to enable the state-owned power agency to recover the premium it paid for getting supply from independent power producers.
As a result of the announcement, the Manila Electric Co. announced an increase of 10.1 centavos per kilowatt-hour. The increase was expected to be implemented this month.
Marcos said if Napocor deferred the rate hike, Meralco would do the same and allow households to enjoy the benefits of lower electricity bills as a result of the cuts in the generation, transmission and system loss charges.
“This would allow parents to save money, which they can use to augment their budget for food, or for the enrollment of their children this coming schoolyear in June,” he said.
Marcos said Filipinos have been groaning under the burden of high electricity rate, which remained the second highest in Asia, according to a study by the International Energy Consultants.
“Even if it will be only a temporary reprieve, it will still mean a lot to our households and it would not make a big impact on the intention of Napocor to recover its stranded contract cost, which is spread out anyway over a period of several years, Marcos said.
Marcos called on the government to invest on power infrastructure to ensure adequate supply of electricity and drive down the rates to ease the burden of Filipinos especially the poor. source
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